Device for lifting invalids



March 26, 1968 A. M. HERRERA 3,374,493

DEVICE FOR LIFTING INVALIDS /wwf Afef/554 INVENTOR.

March 26, 1968 A. M. HERRERA DEVICE FOR LIFTING INVALIDS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 27. 1966 March 26, 1968 A. M. HERRERA 3,374,493

DEVICE FOR LIFTING INVALIDS Filed Sept. 27, 1966 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A. M. HERRERA DEVICE FOR LIFTING INVALIDS 5 Sheets-Sheen*l 4 Filed Sept. 27, 1966 z 9 Z 9 w w W z fm i 5/ fv JF d 5 Am n JMA /Y. i ,/f W w /f lf a. l MLN March 26, 1968 A. M. HERRERA DEVICE FOR LIFTING INVALIDS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 27. 1966 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,374,493 DEVICE FOR LETTING INVALIDS Albert M. Herrera, 7828 'Cucamonga Ave., Sacramento, Calif. 95826 Filed Sept. 27, 1966, Ser. No. 582,450 8 Claims. (Cl. 5-86) ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A castered framework includes a pair of vertically movable arms actuated by hydraulic mechanism controlled by the user, the userbeing supported by a depending sling seat and a pair of armpit crutch supports on the arms.

The invention relates to devices especially useful for persons who as a result of illness, injury or other reasons, are unable to stand, walk or sit down without assistance.

The market place as well as the patent literature are replete with invalid lifting devices. In the main, however, such devices, have required for their operation the additional services of a nurse or other attendant, and, furthermore, have not been capable of ready adjustment to conform to the size and other physical characteristics of the patient.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an invalid lifting device which can be operated by a patient.

It is another object of the device to provide a lifting device which is adjustable so as to atord the patient a maximum degree of comfort and feeling of security.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a device which is not only capable of lifting a patient from a chair to a standing position, land lowering a patient from standing to sitting position, but which also serves as a support while the patient Stands or walks.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a lifting device which is foldable into a compact form for ease of storage and transportation.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a lifting device which is sturdy, durable and reliable in operation, yet which is relatively inexpensive.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a generally improved device for lifting invalids.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, are attained in the embodiment described in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view showing the lifting arms in a lowered position;

FIGURE 2 is a view comparable to FIGURE 1 but with the arms in a raised position;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view illustrating the device in folded position;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view showing the device in expanded position, preparatory for use by a patient;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary schematic illustration of the hydraulic system;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view, to an enlarged scale, of one of the L-shaped framework members; and,

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional view, to a greatly enlarged scale, of the adjustable slider member.

While the lifting device of the invention is susceptible 3,374,493 Patented Mar. 26, 1968 of numerous physical embodiments, depending upon the environment and requirements of use, substantial numbers of the lherein shown and described embodiments have been made, tested and used, and all have performed in an eminently satisfactory mannen The apparatus of the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 12, comprises a sturdy framework 13 including a pair of L-shaped hollow tubes 14 having a horizontal portion 16, or rail, merging through a forward arcuate portion 17 into an upstanding vertical portion 18, or post.

Freedom of movement is afforded by a rst pair of rear casters 21 mounted adjacent the after end of the rails 16, and a second pair of casters 22 mounted on the bottom end of a pair of legs 23 secured to and depending from the lower portion of the upright posts 18.

The framework is also inclusive of means for adjustably spacing each of the L-shaped tubes from the other and for maintaining them in parallel relationship.

As appears most clearly in 1FIGURES 3 and 4, a first, vertical pair of diagonal members 31 are cross-connected between the posts 18, by a pin 30, the diagonal members including a pair of crossed struts 32 pivotally mounted at their lower ends on brackets 33 secured to the posts 13. The upper ends of the struts are pivotally mounted on a pair of ears 34 atiixed to a pair of sleeves 36 slidable on the posts and being selectively securable at any desired vertical location on the posts.

The sleeves 36 preferably are of a conventional type of locking collar construction of the kind used, for eX- ample, in electrical conduit installations, such collars including, in well known fashion, a resilient internal split ring (not shown) encompassing the tube, relative threading movement between the upper knurled portion 38 and the lower knurled portion 39 being effective to compress the ring by camming engagement therewith.

For purposes of storage or transportation of the device, the sleeves 36 are loosened and slid upwardly to the location shown in FIGURE 3; in readying the device for use, the sleeves are moved downwardly to the approximate position shown in FIGURE 4, and locked, the lazytong members 32 being effective to hold the posts 18 rigidly in the spaced, parallel relation shown.

The horizontal rails 16 are positioned by a somewhat similar, second pair of diagonal members 41 (especially see FIGURES 4, 5 and 6) centrally cross-connected by a pin 42. The forward ends of the members 41 are pivotally mounted on brackets 43 secured to the legs 23, and the after ends thereof are pivotally mounted on ears 44 affixed to a pair of sleeves 46 slidably disposed on the horizontal bottom rails 16. While the sleeves 46 can be of the locking or clamping type previously described and designated by reference numeral 36, it has been found that a fairly snug lit between the sleeves 46 and the rails 16 will sutlice in positioning the bottom rails.

As appears most clearly in FIGURES 5 and 6, the horizontal diagonal members 41 are contracted and expanded in dependence upon the positions of the sleeves 46 on the rails 16, and serve in conjunction with the vertical cross-connected spacer members 32 to maintain the entire framework in the desired rigid and spaced parallel relationship.

Having described the mobile framework portion of the device, it now becomes appropriate to discuss the structure by which the patient is lifted and supported.

xRotatably mounted to a pin 49 secured to a closure plate 50 on the top of each of the vertical posts 1S is a cap 51 provided with a rearwardly extending plate 52, the plate having lpivotally mounted thereon a sturdy arm 53, the arm being angularly swingable in a vertical plane between .a lower position and an upper portion, approximately as shown in FIGURES l and 2, respectively.

The arms S3 can, if necessary, be swung somewhat above the generally horizontal attitude depicted in FIG- URE 2, but in the usual instance, the lhorizontal position is quite suicient to support the average person in standing position.

For comfort and security, an arm pit supporting member Se, or crutch type of support, is pivotally mounted on, for relative rotation about a transverse horizontal axis, a pin 55 on the after end of each of the arms 53, cushioning 57 being provided on the generally horizontal and slightly concave crutch portion 58. Preferably, the horizontal crutch portion S is itself pivotally mounted on the vertical portion 56 to afford freedom of movement of the crutch portion 58 about a vertical axis.

As a novel and very helpful featureof the arm pit supporting member, I have provided a parallel motion linkage 61 which serves to maintain the crutch cushion 57 i1 a substantially horizontal attitude at all times during use of the device, and regardless of the position of the lifting arms 53.

l Inclusive of this parallel motion structure is a rod 62 kpivotally mounted at its forward end ontthe plate 52 and at its after end on a pin 60 on a downward extension 63 of the arm pit supporting member 56.

Since, the distances between the pivot pins on the plate 52 and the pins S5 and 60 on the arm pit supporting member 56 are identical and since the effective lengths of the arm 53 and the rod 62 are the same, the crutch cushion 57 remains at all times in a horizontal attitude, thus giving the patient support in a constant, comfortable manner and Without any tilting.

Although it is not necessary in the case of some patients, most patients benefit from the addition ofv a seat sling 71 pivotally mounted on and depending from the downward extensions 63 of the two, spaced, arm pit supporting members. The details of construction of the sling seat form no part of the present invention, it being suiiicient to point out that preferably the length of the sling is adjustable, as by buckles 72 and that each upper end of the sling is individually detachably secured, as at the pin a0, to the corresponding one of the arm pit supporting members 55.

Upward and downward swinging movement of the arms 53 is preferably effected by a hydraulic system 81, the system including a pair of hydraulic cylinders 82, each pivotally mounted at its lower end on a framework bracket 83, and a pair of plungers 84 each pivotally mounted on a bracket 86 located adjacent the after end and on the bottom side of the arm 53.

As a further novel feature of the device, at least one of the I.shaped framework tubes 14 is utilized as a reservoir 87 for the hydraulic fluid (see FIGURE 8), a transverse closure 88 adjacent the after end of the horizontal rail 16 serving to confine the uid 89 and to permit mounting of the caster 21 at the end of the rail, as shown.

The hydraulic uid 89 is Withdrawn from the reservoir 87 through an appropriate fitting 90 and fiows through a conduit 91 to a conventional hydraulic pump 92 actuated by a hand lever 93 extending rearwardly and upwardly to Within easy reach of the patient supported by the arm pit supporting members 56. A hand grip 94 affords a comfortable hold on the pump'lever as the lever is moved upwardly and downwardly.

Hydraulic fluid under pressure leaves the pump 92 through a T-fitting 96 and there divides, with fluid oW occurring in a conduit 97 extending to a fitting 98 connected to the bottom end of the cylinder g2. From the bottom fitting 98, a shunt conduit 99 lal-.S to the bottom l i l e 'of the second cylinder 82 (see FIGURE 7) foroperation in parallel. v

With pressurized fluid being propelled into the bottoms of the two cylinders S2, the corresponding plungers 84V are caused to project, thus lifting the arms 53.

Concurrently, uid at the fitting 96 under pump pressure extends its inuence through the fluid filling a conduit 101 extending from the T-fitting 96 to a hand manipulated control valve 192 conveniently located, for easy reach, on one of the lifting arms 53 (see FIGURES l and 2).

The control valve, 102, which is of conventional construction, includes a fitting 106, to Which the pressure conduit 101 is connected, an actuating handle 107, and a fitting 10S to which is connected a return line 109 connected to a fitting 111 in communication with the conduit 91 and connecting with the reservoir 37 (see FIG- URE 7 During the period in which the patient is 4pumping the lever 93 so as to lift the arms 53, the control valve actuating handle 107V is not touched; and the control valve construction is such that when the handle is not touched, inow through the high pressure conduit 101 leading into the valve is blocked. Thus, during lifting of the arms, no uid iioW occurs through the conduit 101; instead, all of the flow is through the conduit 97', and the shunt conduit 99, to the cylinders 82.

When the arms S3 reach the desired height, the patient ceases pumping and the customary check valve (not shown) inside the pump 92 prevents back flow through the fitting 95, the pump 92 and the supply line 91. So also, back ow from the cylinders through the fitting 96 and the conduit 101 to the valve is not possible since, as previously stated, the valve 102 prevents such flow so long as the valve handle is not touched. In this manner, the arms are retained in their upper position.

When, however, the patient desires to be lowered from standing to seated position, it is only necessary to manipulate, as by pressing down on, the actuating handle 107 so as to open the valve and permit tiow from the conduit 101 through the valve 192 and out into the return line 109. The flow path, in other words, is from the conduits 99 and 97 through the T-fitting 96, through the conduit 101 and the valve 102, thence outwardly through the drain line 109, through the fitting 111 and return to the reservoir through the conduit 91,

By suitable manipulation, the patient quickly learns to throttle the release oW through the valve 102 and is thus able to regulate the downward movement of the arms with a nice degree of control.

As still another important feature of the device, I have provided mechanism for adjustably spacing the distance between the shoulder support, or crutch, cushions 57 to suit the physical dimensions of the particular patient.

As appears most clearly in FIGURES 4 and 6, a pair of slightly variant diagonal wish-bone members 121 and 122 is arranged in crossed fashion to regulate the extent of spacing between the arm cushions 57.

The member 121 includes an upper, bowed strut 123 attached at to a lower strut 124 pivotally mounted on pins 125 adjacent the forward end of one of the arms 53, the after end of the Wishbone member 121 being pivotally mounted on a slider 126 translatably and clampingly disposed on a track 127, 0r flange, formed by upturning the lower margin of the adjacent arm 53, the slider being selectively secured in place by a thumb screw 12S, as in FIGURE 9.

In comparable fashion, the Wishbone member 122 includes an upper strut 133 and a lower strut 134, pivotally mounted on a pair of pins 135 adjacent the forward end of the other one of the arms S3, the after end of the Wishbone member 122 being pivotally mounted on a slider 136 slidable on and selectively secured as before to a ange track 138. i

By clamping the sliders at selected positions along the flange tracks, the separation between the arm cushions 57 can readily be adjusted to suit the patient.

The two Wishbone structures 121 and 122 are foldable into the fully contracted position necessary for storage and transportation; as appears in FIGURE 5; however, owing to the converging and interposed relation of the two wishbones, and particularly as a consequence of the relatively steep angle of the strut 123 adjacent the junction point 120, as most clearly appears in FIGURE 4, the two wishbones come into interfering relation as the arms 53 are horizontally spread apart to approximately the same distance as that separating the bottom rails 16 as shown in FIGURE 6. In other words, the arm supporting members 57 are limited as to the amount of separation between them to a distance approximately equal to the customary separation of the two L-shaped framework members, this limitation being effected by the interference between the two Wishbone members 121 and 122.

The two Wishbone members 121 and 122 also provide other novel and important results. The geometrical configurations of the internal Wishbone 122 and the external Wishbone 121 (see FIGURE 4) are selected so that in substantially all positions of separation of the L-shaped framework members, the strut 133 is spaced only about It-inch below the strut 123 and the strut 134 is only about 1Ai-inch above the strut 124. Consequently, should the patient impose a considerable relative excess of weight on one of the lifting arms, one of the struts on that arm will be urged downwardly into interfering or abutting relation with the subjacent one of the Wishbone struts connected to the other relatively unweighted lifting arm, and thus transfer a portion of the excess weight to said other arm. In this fashion, the wishbones serve as Weight equalizers so that the lifting arms are maintained at all times in substantially the same angular attitude regardless ot weight inequalities imposed on the lifting arms.

The combination of the framework spreading afforded by the vertical diagonal cross-members 31 and the horizontal cross-members 41, together with the selective spreading of the lifting arms provided by the adjustment of the wishbones enables the patient to achieve a precise positioning of the crutch members; and since, as previously indicated, the horizontal cushion supports 57 can be swiveled about vertical axes to conform to the patients armpit conguration, a maximum of comfort and security is achieved.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing description, the device is intended primarily for patients who, for one reason or another, nd it either diiiicult or impossible to rise, stand, walk and sit down, but who possess the ability to adjust the sling seat about themselves, and who are able to actuate the uid pump and manipulate the control. To this class of persons, the device affords a remarkable degree of independence not heretofore possible.

Variations of the device can be made to suit patients lacking the ability to actuate the hand pump; as, for example, the substitution of an electrically driven pump.

Still other patients, owing to their condition, will require outside assistance to effect fastening and unfastening of the sling seat, and perhaps actuation of the lifting arms.

In substantially all cases, however, the lifting of a previously helpless and dependent patient to standing position, together with the secure, comfortable support afforded as the patient stands or walks forwardly, and the smooth, unhurried return of the patient from standing to sitting posture has been found from actual experience with the device, to provide a most satisfying therapeutic effect.

What is claimed is:

1. An invalid lifting device comprising:

(a) a framework including a pair of spaced L-shaped tubes each having a horizontal rail portion and a vertical post portion upstandng from the forward end of said rail portion, said framework further including a plurality of ground engaging casters mounted thereon;

(b) a pair of rearwardly extending arms pivotally mounted on said posts for swinging movement in a vertical plane;

(c) a pairof arm pit supporting members on the after ends of said arms;

(d) hydraulic means for moving said arms between a first lower position of said arm pit supporting members and a second elevated position thereof;

(e) a seat sling mounted on and depending from the after end of said arms;

(f) a control valve located within the reach of a person supported above said sling;

(g) a hand pump forming a part of said hydraulic means and located within the reach of a person supported above said sling;

(h) a hydraulic piston and cylinder forming a part of said hydraulic means and being pivotally connected to one of said arms and to one of said tubes, at least one of said tubes forming a reservoir for the hydraulic fluid used in conjunction with said hydraulic arm moving means;

(i) adjustable spacer means cross connecting said arms;

and

(j) means for pivotally mounting the forward ends of said arms on said posts for horizontal swinging movement of said arms in dependence upon the position of said spacer means.

2. A device as in claim 1 including means for retaining said arm pit supporting members in a substantially horizontal attitude as said arms are moved between Said first position and said second position.

3. A device as in claim 1 further characterized by adjustable separator means cross connecting said tubes, said separator means being effective to position said tubes in parallel relation in all locations between a primary laterally extended position of said tubes and a secondary laterally folded position thereof.

4. A device as in claim 3 wherein said separator means includes a pair of substantially horizontal cross connected rods pivotally mounted `at their forward ends on said tubes, a pair of sleeves slidably mounted on said rails, and means for pivotally connecting the after ends of said rods to said sleeves, and a pair of substantially vertical cross connected bars pivotally mounted on said posts, said rods and said bars being concurrently movable as said tubes are urged toward and away from each other between said extended and said folded positions.

5. In an invalid lifting device comprising a castered framework including at its forward end a pair of vertical posts, a pair of rearwardly extending arms pivotally mounted on top of said posts for movement in a vertical plane, and hydraulic means on said framework and connected to said arms for moving said arms between a rst lower position and a second elevated position, the combination of:

(a) a pair of armpit-supporting members located on the after ends of said arms, said members being pivotally mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and a transverse horizontal axis; and,

(b) means for retaining said armpit-supporting members in a substantially horizontal attitude as said arms are moved between said iirst position and said second position.

6. A device as in claim 5 further including adjustable spacer means cross-connected to said arms for positioning said armpit-supporting members at predetermined laterally spaced locations in dependence upon the needs of the user.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said crossed spacer means comprises a first member having its forward end pivotally mounted on one of said posts and its after end slidably mounted on the opposite one of said arms, and a second member having its forward end pivotally mounted on the other of said posts and its after end slidably mounted on tbe opposite other of said arms, said first member being arranged for engagement with said second member for unitary vertical movement of said arms as said arms are moved between said rst position and said second A position.

8. The device of claim 6 further including adjustable separator means cross-connecting said posts, said separator means being efective to position said posts in parallel relation in all locations between a laterally extended position and a laterally folded position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1956` Kastner 5-33 X 2,752,986 5 2,792,052 5/1957 Johannesen 5-83 X 3,165,314 1/1965 Clearman et al. 5-81 X 3,203,009 S/ 1965 yLundberg 5-81 3,222,029 12/1965Y Hildernann 5-87 10 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Pz'mmy Examiner. 

